By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, signed into law bills to accelerate development in the North-West and South-East geo-political zones of the country, respectively.
The bills he assented to include the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and the South-East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023.
This was confirmed in a press statement issued by Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale on Wednesday.
The presidential aide explained that the North-West Development Commission is set up to facilitate the reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises destroyed by multidimensional crises, as well as tackle poverty, literacy level, ecological problems, and any other related environmental or development challenges in North-West states.
In addition, the South-East Development Commission, according to him, is established to ensure the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone, as well as tackle ecological problems, and other related environmental or developmental challenges in South-East states.
The New Diplomat reports that the south-east bill was sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and the North-West Development Commission Bill was sponsored by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau,
The bill was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives and transmitted to the president in June for assent.
The two commissions are expected to set the stage for the establishment of the two interventionist agencies to address development challenges in the North-West and South-East parts of the country, respectively, following years of insecurity.
